Thrust bearing



May 29, 1923. 1,457,081

w. H. LIEBER THRUST BEARING Filed March 24. 1921 '5, /2 @19.5 A /mo/ww/g Patented May 29, 1923.

WILLIAM E. LIEBER, or WEST ALLIs, MANUFACTURING -nELAWAaE.

Animationen@ '-iaarhai, 1921, 'serial No'. 455,017.1' i

' To all whom it may con-cem:

and useful Improvement Vin struction and design Be-it known that WILLIAIII H. LIEBER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at West Allis, in` the county of- Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, hasinvented va certain new of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in lgeneral-.t0 bearings and has particular relation to bearings of the thrust type, wherein special provisions are made for reducing frictionto a minimum through the production'of. a film of lubricating fluid under pressure between relatively movable bearingsurfaces.

It is an object of this inventionto provide an improved thrust bearing whereinthe rel-v atively movable bearingelements are of special design and construction to facilitate the production and maintenance-of the desired film of lubricating material under pressure between the active bearing surfaces during the opei'ationuof the shaft, with which the bearing lis associated.

It is a furtherfobject of this invention to providea thrust bearing vof .improved ldesign and construction wherein one ofthe relatively movable bearing elements 'includes a plurality of bearing shoes or pads ofj such design and construction and so mounted relative to the iXed and -movable bearing ele-4 ments as; to facilitate the formation and maintenanceV of a film of lubricating fluid under Vpressure during the operation of the. movable bearing element andshaft associatf ed therewith, and wherein-the general `cono f the bearing especially adaptsit forhigh speed work, in that the friction and wear .usually present between the relatively rotatable bearing surfaces are eifectively reduced by distributing such friction and wear over a series of pairs of co-operating bearing` surfaces.

A'further object of this invention' isto provide abearing of this type and design involving the use ofan intermediate bearing element having a movement of rotation relative to those parts ofthe bearing structure which, in the ordinary bearing, are conf tended to operate at a speed approximately vbeing in-.

one half'thatofthe.sha-ft."andtobeequally. er i effect-ive .for either direction-ofshaftrotation.

provide abearing. of l.this;,ty} o,e and tions orshoesformed as,

wIscoNsIN, `Assrciiiioa"To AIi'IgIsfCHAIlIgIIiiis" i COMPANY, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; A f ioItIo`Ie/eu':'10Nj 'oiijfji .i THRUSTBEARING. n

feo asinglevpce clef! i. f f f lment and y co-operable with the relatively fixed* andmovable vbearing elements and of.

such design and-construction as to facilitate."

the .p

reduction.ofa'desired lm of lubricat-vr ingluid under pressure. f f1* These and Vother, objectsjand advantages: i* are .attained by thisl invention, ,the j :varius novel features of which will appear'from' the descriptionl and drawings disclosing onev embodiment of-suchinventio-n', fand, willibe` more particularly pointed out inthe claimsf In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. `l is a fragmentary sectional elev of apparatus I-f OfFig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewalongitheiif i l f. i

line II-II of Fig. l. y

Fig. 3 `is a. view -in elevation .of the active parts of the bearing of l active parts being being considered at rest. i e i a ig. Lis a-view similar to F ig. 3,.but`.`with and the shaftconsidtionprovided with a thrustfbear-j ing embodyingy features of lthis invention, vthe plane vof 4 section being thaty ofthelinef Figs. l and. 2 said.v developed and tlieview; *being taken from/'av point`` radially within the bearing'structure7 the bearing elements. 85v

of the line oiiv In theembodiment of` they closed in the drawings, the shaft l0 of aina chine, which maybe considered asa vertical shaft V'machine of any desired character,

passes through. a central `openingll in .the`

base or bearing .support YV12. f Anf annular thrust collar or bearing member ..13having a bearing ,face lll at itsupper side is pro.- vided.Vv This collarH maybe a separateele,

ment directlysupported on the bearing supi' port, 12, as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be integral with the bearing support. The thrust collar 13 is provided at its lower side 'with a spherical seat designed for co-operdateL and provide for equalization of any f unbalanced thrust exerted on the bearing collar 13.

lAn annular support or thrust collar 18 is connected or otherwise xed tothe shaft 10 to rotate therewith, andthis collar carries vspaced points on its lower side Aor restsupon an annular bearing member 19 which may be inthe form of a single piece yring or collar, the bearing element being connected in driving 'relation with the collar 18 'and held against appreciable movement relative thereto, by means of a pin and slot arrangement, indicated at 21. The bearing collar 19 has a machined bearing surface 23 at its lower side.

Interposed between the bearing collarsq13 and 19 is a bearingele'ment 25, this element being `indicated herein as a single piece ring recessed or having portions removed at as indicated at 26, and similar recesses 27 'at space-d points at its upper side. Intermediate these recessed portions are solid or unrecessed portions 28, the latter being joined by portions 29 and 31 which are axially oppositethe recesses 26 and 27, respectively, the parts 28, 29 and'31, being integrally formed in the preferred construction, as indicated herein. The recesses on one axial side of the element 25 are circumferentially intermediate those on the other axial side. lVith this latter arangement, the portions 29 are above the recesses 26, and the portions 31 are below the recesses-27. The upper surfaces of the portions 29 and the solid portions 28 are'in the same plane and forma bearing face normally in engagement. with the bearing surface 23 of the upper thrust collar 19, while the lower surfaces of the portions 31 and of the solid or rigid portions 28 are in aI single planev and form a bearing face in engagement withV the upper bearing surface 14 of the thrust collar 13. The portions 29 and 31 are slightly flexible or resilient, especiallat the portion intermediate adjacent rigi parts 28. The bearing portions or shoes 29 have portions of reduced thickness 32 at their radially inner side; and the bearing portions or shoes 31 have similar portions of reduced thickness 34 at their radially inner side. These portions 32 and 34 extend radially inward beyond the rigid portions 28 and, hence, having less direct support, are more readily deflectable from normal position.

It will beapparent that the upper surfaces of adjacent portions 28 Yand the bearing portion 29 intermediate said adjaccntportions 28 form spaced bea-ring faces in operative engagement with the bearing surface 23 of the 'thrust collar 19. Likewise, the lower surfaces of adjacent port-ions 28 and the intermediate bearing portions 31 constitute spaced bearing faces in operative engagement with the upper bearing surface 14 of the thrust collar 13. It will be apparentalso that the bearing portions at the upper side of the intermedia-te .ring 25 are staggered with relation to those of the lower side thereof, and that the bearing portions'or shoes at b'oth the upper and lower side 'of the intermediate ring are free to bend or deflect to a slight extent in an axial direction, especially at the'circumferentially intermediate parts of the shoes,` and also that the radially inner portions 32 and 34 are free l to bend with increased facility.

The intermediate ring element 25 is free to rotate relatively to either or both of the bearing elements 13, 19 and may be guided and maintained inoperative position relan tive thereto through vco-operation with guiding means of any suitable forni. The specific form of guiding means shown herein includes a plurality of spaced rollers 37 designed for engagement with the radially outer side of the intermediate ring and mounted for rotation upon pins 38 supported in the bearing support or base 12.

A bearing housingl41 is supported by the bearing support 12,l being spaced from the bearing elements 13, 19 and 25. The annular support 12 is provided at its radially inner edge with a cylindrical. tube 42 secured in position as by being threaded .in the support 12, and this tube is of such dimensions as to be entirely free of theshaft 10 and to extend above the plane of engagement ofthe bearing surface 23 of the bearing element 19 and the bearing surface of the bearing` shoes 29 of the intermediate bearing element The tube 42 thus acts as' a. dam for confining a body of oil in which the active bearing elements are immersed, the housing 41 being filled with oil to a point above the plane of the above mentioned co-operative bearing surfaces and below the upper edge of 'the tubular element 42.

The. bearing member 13 on the bearing support 12 may be provided with radial ducts 47 for providing communication between the space outside of said thrust collar and thev space radially within the thrust collar. As

indicated herein; these ducts areinfthe form of grooves on the lowervside of thethrust collar 13. However, they may assume any form suitable for accomplishing the purpose drag due to or permitted by of Vproviding the desired communication be-` ingthe direction of rotation as indicated in' F ig. 4, oil is free to circulate through the radial ducts 47, the normal flow through these ductsvbeing radially inward to the space radially withinthe bearing elements,

whence it is thrown or'dr'agged out 'by centrifugal force and the circumferential the viscosity of the oil, the general direction of `movement of the oil corresponding to a resultant of that due to centrifugal force and the circumferential whirlv or drag causedfby the rotating element of the bearing;v The oil is free to move through the recesses 26 and-27 at opposite radial sides of the intermediate bearing elementy 25, and also,r when the speed of rotationis sufficientlyl high, between the `bearing surfaces of the 'portions29 and 31 of the intermediate bearing element 25 and the {zo-operative bearing surfaces of the bearin members 19 and 31. .This continuouscir-y cullation of oil inwardly through the ducts 47 and outwardly around and across the; ac'- tivebearing surfaces keeps the'active'bear'- ing elements continuously flooded with an ample supply of lubricating fluid. l,

As the ring 25v and the bearing portions or shoes 29 and 31 thereof are free to rotate;v itfwill be apparent that there will be relative(` rotation between this ringf25 and one on' both of the bearing elements 31 and 19.-

Whatever actual rotation there may beof the ring 25 with its'bearing shoes29 land 31, will be in the same direction as the rotatable bearing element 419, the intermediate ring"` being carried or dragged along to a greater or less degree by the rotatable element of the bearing. 4

It will be apparent that the amount of oil passin about and across the .bearing surfaces o the intermediate ring will be de-` pendent upon the speed of rotation of the rotatable bearing element. As the speed of the shaft increases7 the oil inthe space within the bearing elements and atthe bearingv surfaces is'under greater pressure,-thi`s"presf sure being due to centrifugal force andthe circumferential drag' or swirl exerted upon" the oil. With increase inthe'speedof the rotating bearing 'member 19 and the'inter- `mediate `ring 25,"the oil in eachjgroove35 and 3 6 at the bearing surfacesV Vof the shoes 29 and` 31, respectively, has Vincreasingly greater pressure exerted thereon tending to force or drag the oil radially outwardand circumferentially shaped films of'oil,v the bases resting at the grooves.

that'as the oil between able bearing surfaces at of the wedges It Will be apparent the relatively .mov-

is put under increasing pressure las the rotational speed iof the shaft' increases, this so as to form wedge-v both the .upper and' lower sides ofI the intermediate bearing ring pressure finallyfbecomes effective to exert a tilting or bendingL effect on the intermediatev` portions ofthe vbearing shoes 29 and`31, thus increasing the circumferential length of the wedges as the material vof the `bearing shoes 29 Aand 31'k is defiectedadjacent lthe grooves 35 and 36. y y

Whenthespee'd of the l'shaft is at avalue*` correspondingto normal operation, the pressurel developed -on these .wedge-shaped bodies of oilis suflicient'to force theoilpractically 'fully across the entire co-operative bearing surfaces of the bearing elements` thus establishing oil films which. are effective to float or lift the movable thrust collar 19 from thebearing shoes 29 of theintermediate ring and,` likewise,v kto float" or liftthe bearing shoes 31- ofthe intermediate collar from" the fixed bearing element 13.`

The actualspeed ofthe Vintermediate "ring 25 will befatsome point between `zero, and

that yof,l the' lmovable .bearingfelement- 19,` depending 'upon the ratiofbetweenthe friction presentmbetween the bearing'shoe's 29 and the thrust collar19 and lthat between. the bearing shoes 31 and bearingelement`f13. lThis floating ofv one bearing element. substantially `out ofactual engagement with the co-operative bearing v-element through the action of a filmof oil under pressure,- thus, -rsubstantially avoiding metal contact, causes a great reduction in the.

frictional losses. ofthe 'bearing in operation.-

If the direction of rotation is opposite" toV that indicatedin-,Figf 4, it willbe apparent that the parts are equally;v effective lto Mproduce the desired films.v of lubricating-Huid! l bearing sure.v

under pressure between` acti`ve faces ofthe intermediate ring25 andthe relatively yfixed and movable lthrust collars 13 Vand 19g Substantially. theonly diffevirencel that'may'exist for rotation in the opposite the relatively fixed direction would vbe 4that the-Wedgeshaped films of oil would be more elongated in the directiouopposite to that existing for ifolWhile/the above explanationlma-y noty of the physical effects: f

exact as to all details attending :the development and maintenance ofthe film of lubricating fluid under pressure between the active bearing surfaces of the bearing elements, nevertheless. it is certain that desirable operating results may be secured with bearing structures embodying features of the present invention.

It should be understood that it is not de sired that the invention claimed be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing'members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bea-ring element interposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of bearing portions having,V bearing faces cooperative with the bearing surfaces of said bearing members, onehalf of said bearing portions being (ro-operative with the bearing surface of only one of said bearing elements and the Vother half being cooperative with the bearone of said portions of in alteii'nat ing surface of only the other bearing elements, the bea-ring the two groups beingarranged ing relation.

2. In a thrust bearing for a. shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element interposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of bearing portions having bearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of said bearing members, one half of said bearing portions being undercut at one axial side, and the other half of said bearing portions being undercut at the opposite axial side whereby each of said bearing portions is co-operative with only one of said bearing members.

3. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relaev tively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element interposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of bearing portions having bearing faces (to-operative with the bearing surfaces of said bearing members circumferentially adjacent bearing portions of said `bearing element being undercut at opposite axial sides of said bearing element to permit deflection in opposite axial directions of the bearing faces of adjacent bearing portions.

el. In a thrust bearing for a. shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element interposed between said bearing members andfhavingbearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of'said bearing members, said bearing element comprising a plurality of bearing portions having their bearilngfaces deflectable from normal position, said bearing portionsk each having a bearing face at only one axial side, andv adrennes1 jacent ybearing portions having their bearing faces at opposite axial sides of said bearing element.

5. In a thrust bearing Vfor a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element disposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of spaced deflectablc bearing portions, said deflectable portions each having a bearing face co,- operative with the bearing surface of one only of said bearing members, and adjacent detlectable bearing portions having their bearing faces at opposite axial sides.

6. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, rela tively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element disposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of spaced deflectable bearing port-ions' connected by relatively rigid portions, said deilectable portions each having a bearing face cooperative with the bearing surface of one only of said bearing members, adjacent deflectable bearing portions having their bear ing faces at opposite axial sides, relatively rigid portions being provided with bearing faces at both axial sides.

7. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing ele-` ment disposed between said bearing mem-r bers and 'comprising a plurality of spaced relatively flexible bearing portions each of said flexible portions having a. bearing face at one axial side, said bearing facevbeing provided with a recess having a radial directional component, and adjacent flexible por tions of said bearing elements having their bearing faces on opposite axial sides of said element.

8. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing .ele-` ment interposed between said bearing members and comprising a single piece ring having a plurality of bearing portions having bearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of said bearing members, one group of said bearing portions having their bearing faces at one axial side of said bearing element, another group of said bearing portions having their bea-ring faces at the other axial side of said bearing element, the bea-ring portions of the two 4groups being arranged in alternating relation, and said bearing portions being undercut at the side opposite the bearing faces thereof to provide increased flexibility adjacent the central part of each bearing portion.

9. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element disposed between said bearing members and comprising a plurality of spaced and said y delectable bearing portions connected by relatively rigid portions, said deflectable portions extending radially inward beyond said relatively rigid portions and each having a bearing face co-operative with the bearing surface of one only of said bearing members,`and adjacent deflectable bearing portions having their bearing faces at opposite axial sides 10. In a thrust bearing for a shaft. relatively rotatable bearing members having op-v posed bearing surfaces, a bearing element interposed and free to rotate between said bearing members and provided with bearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of said members, said bearing element comprising a plurality of spaced rigid portions having` bearing surfaces on both axial sides, and intermediate portions connecting said rigid portions, each of saidA intermediate portions being provided with a bearing face at one axial side only andv undercut at the side opposite its bearing face, 'and adjacent l intermediate portions having their bearing faces at oppositeaxial sides and being deiiec't'able in response to the production of a film of oil under pressure at said bearing faces during the operationof said bearing.

1l. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members having opposed bearing surfaces, and a bearing element interposed between said bearing members and comprising-spaced axially'Y deflectable bearing portions at opposite axial sides of said bearing element and having `bearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of said bearing members.

12. In a thrust bearing for a shaft,.rela

tively rotatable bearing members having opable bearing portion-s atr opposite axial tsides 55 of said bearing element and having bearing faces co-operative with the bearing surfaces of v,said bearing members, said deliectable bearing portions being connected by relatively rigid portions and extending radially inward .beyond said relatively rigid portions.

14. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, a bearing element comprising a i plurality of spaced, relatively rigid portions, and axially deflectable portions having bearing faces` and extending from said rigid portions at opposite axial sides thereof.

- l5. In a thrust bearing fora shaft, a bearing element comprising a plurality of spaced, relatively rigid portions, and axially deflectable portions having bearing faces and l I extending from said-rigid portions at both axial sides thereof, the radially inner edges of said deflectable portions being of increased flexibility. f y n' 16. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, a bearing element comprising a. plurality of spaced,

relatively rigid portions, and axially de-. i

V i 80 '.tending from each of sai-d relatively rigid flectable portions having bearing faces ex'- portions at opposite axial sides thereof.

17. In a thrustbearing for a shaft, a bearing element comprising a plurality of spaced, relativelyy rigid portions, and axially defiectable portionshaving bearing faces and` connecting said relatively rigid portions along opposite axial sides of the bearing element. i l

18. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, a bearing element comprising a plurality of spaced,

reIatively rigid, portions, ,and axially deflectable portions having bearing lfaces and connecting said relatively rigid portions along opposite axial sides of the bearing element, said connectingvportions having radiallyinner portions of increasedflexibility;

19. In a thrust bearing for a shaft, a bearing element comprising a plurality of spaced, relatively rigid portions, and axially `de. fiectable portions having bearing faces and connecting adjacent rigid portions, 'adjacent v connecting portions having their bearingv faces at opposite axial sides of the` bearing element- In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afxed hereto.

' WILLIAMk I-I. LIEBER. 

